Rail

California high-speed rail groundbreaking delayed

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) officials told the San Jose Mercury News construction on the rail project will be delayed for a few months. The state needs more time to buy more land and equipment, finish designs and hire workers. Additionally, two lawsuits that will be decided in the next few months could cause more delays.

CHSRA officials also told the paper they're on schedule, with the start of construction they had promised referring to prep work, such as testing soil and surveying land. Those jobs began one month ago without fanfare. For the full story, click here.

This contract includes high voltage cabling from the state grid for the new 16-mile metro line. Alstom is the main supplier of Kochi metro after it has been awarded previous orders for 25 Metropolis trainsets, signalling, telecom and electrification. Commercial service is scheduled to begin in March 2016.

The contract, which is for a ten-year period with the option to extend another 5 years, covers maintenance and spare parts on 74 four-car Class 357 ELECTROSTAR trains and is valued at approximately $213 million.

The train wreck, which occurred in the early morning of March 24, 2014, when the operator allegedly fell asleep, injured more than 30 people and caused roughly $9 million in damage. The lead railcar had to be cut up to remove it from the escalator.